The Cital joint venture (JV), composed of Alstom, Entreprise du métro d’Alger (EMA) and Ferrovial, has opened its Citadis tramway assembly and maintenance site in Annaba, Algeria.
The JV was created in 2011 to support assembling and maintenance of Alstom Citadis trams for Algerian cities.
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The 46,000m² facility currently employs 90 staff, is capable of assembling five trams per month and has assembled 20 trams to date.
The JV employs about 200 people to maintain the Citadis trams already in service in the cities of Algiers, Oran and Constantine.
In the future, Cital expects assemble more than 210 trams in Annaba for cities, including Constantine, Oran, Ouargla, Mostaganem, Sidi Bel Abbes, Setif, Batna and Annaba.
In addition, Cital has extended the scope of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in December 2014 to include the manufacture and maintenance of intercity trains for Algeria as well as the entry of National railway SNTF as a new shareholder in the joint venture.
The MoU reflects the commitment of the Algerian Government to pursue the development of the national industry, making Annaba the centre of excellence for serving the rail industry.
Owned by Ferrovial (41%), EMA (10%), Alstom Algeria (6%) and Alstom (43%), Cital was created to develop the country’s industrial railroad as well as the corresponding expertise.
Image: Citadis in Constantine, Algeria. Photo: courtesy of Alstom Transport.
